Music maestro of Madras, A R Rahman was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Aligarh Muslim University on Sunday. He was honored for his contribution to art and music.

Mr. Rahman, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars for his work in Slumdog Millionaire, was honored, along with Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang, at the university’s 59th convocation.
He joins the likes of the former Presidents, Zakir Hussain and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who were among the earlier recipients of the award.

He urged youth to work for “a strong, harmonious India.” “I urge young people to continue learning and participate with me in building a strong, harmonious India and world.”

Attributing his success to Indian tradition and philosophy, Mr. Rahman said: “It is only with these values that my success has been realized, both nationally and, now after the 2009 Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe Awards, internationally.”

Describing art in general, and music in particular, as “a transcendent language that all can understand,” he said the country needed more people willing to enter art, culture and media. “We see a majority of people in our country desiring to become engineers, doctors and lawyers but we need more people in the creative fields of media and art.”
“In a world of mass killings, genocides and terrorism, we need more positive emotions,” he commented.